Cruising genes live on through clones

Cruising, the top Irish showjumping stallion who died in September last year at the age of 29, has been cloned.

Pair

The McCann family, owners of the Hartwell Stud in County Kildare where Cruising was bred and stood as a stallion, confirmed they have a pair of two-year-old clones of the famous grey stallion.

“As the traditional Irish horse is sought after worldwide, it is hoped the two clones – Cruising Arish and Cruising Encore – will keep Ireland’s reputation of breeding world class performance horses to the fore,” said a statement from the stud.

The clones are said to hold100% of Cruising’s genes.

DNA

The Irish Independent reported that the clones cost an estimated€100,000 each.

Cells were taken from Cruising in 2011, and the DNA extracted and inserted into eggs. These were then incubated before being transferred to recipient mares.

Despite being born in 2012, the colts were kept secret. They are both about to start stud duties, and will become the first clones to stand in Ireland.

Star

Cruising was a hugely successful showjumper. Ridden by Trevor Coyle, Cruising won many of the world’s major Grands Prix includingAachen, Dortmund and Lucerne. In 1999 he was second in the FEI World Cup finals in Gothenburg, and he was on many winning FEI Nations Cup teams for Ireland.

He obtained the five-star rating for his own performance and for his progeny’s performance in both eventing and showjumping. His offspring include top showjumper Flexible and leading US eventer Mr Medicott.

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